All-Star Watch: Deserving Padres

SS Everth Cabrera

Cabrera belongs in the All-Star game. Period. Of course, whether or not he gets there could depend on whether or he beats Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki back from the disabled list. With Tulowitzki’s injury (broken rib) much more delicate that Cabrera’s hammy, our money’s on Cabrera locking up a spot next to the Brewers’ Jean Segura.

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2

LHP Eric Stults

Stults doesn’t have a lot to show for a breakout 2013 campaign. He turned in his sixth straight quality start Monday, but won just two games over that stretch and is just 6-5 on the season despite a team-best 3.20 ERA and the best WHIP (1.09) among pitchers in the rotation. Still, a lot of startrs in NL are having better seasons than Stults, so he’s a long-shot to make the team when you consider a number of worthy relievers around the league.

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3

RHP Andrew Cashner

The Padres’ 26-year-old right-hander is coming on strong of late. He has turned in quality starts in four straight outings, going a career-high eight innings in two of those starts. Cashner’s strikeout rates are down from a year ago – 6.2 K/9 this year compared to 10.1 last year – but so is his walk rate and ERA. A couple of more good starts in a row and Cashner could soar to the top of this list, especially if SS Everth Cabrera isn’t quick to come off the disabled list.

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4

OF/1B Kyle Blanks

Blanks continues to thrive in a full-time role and his versatility could make him a smart pick that NL manager Bruce Bochy could plug in at first base or any of the corner outfield positions late in an All-Star game. Blanks’ eight homers are tied for second on the team with OF Carlos Quentin and 2B Jedd Gyorko (who could also get back in the conversation with a fast start off the disabled list).

RHP Jason Marquis

The veteran right-hander continues to win and that number still has a lot of pull with the people who put guys in All-Star games. Although Marquis’ 3.99 ERA isn't awful, his walk rate – 4.8 per nine innings – is one factor leading to a -1.3 WAR, according to fangraphs.com.